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Many people in the US are nowadays suffering from back pain making it one of the main ailments that doctors are treating. Data obtained from the National Institute of Health indicates that in every five adults four will suffer from back pain within their life time. Those who have suffered from back pains already know the effects it has on their daily lives. The main causes of back pains include muscle strain; irritation or injury to the large nerve that runs down the legs and arms, or the small nerves inside the spine; or from an injury to the discs, bones, joints or ligaments in the spine. But what is more encouraging is the fact that with massage therapy the effects of these problems can be minimized and the back pain reduced and you can do your daily tasks normally. The benefits of massage therapy are recognized by many experts and they recommend massage for the management of chronic or acute back pain.

Massage therapy is recognized by many health care providers as a solution for back pain and many of their patients are asked to visit licensed massage therapists. According to research carried out at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami in 2001 massage therapy does not only decrease back pain but it also increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine thereby helping to reduce depression and anxiety. Those who went through massage not only slept well but also improved their range of motion. This is according to a report contained in the International Journal of Neuroscience, 106, 131-145. A similar research by the American Massage Therapy Association also shows that with massage blood circulation is improved in the body thereby quickening the healing of the back muscles and back tissues leaving the body muscles in a relaxed mood.  This helps the functions of the body and its ability to carry out other tasks. Through massage oxygen and nutrients is sent to the muscles and this helps in the elimination of acids and waste that results to pain and stiffness. 

Therapeutic massage helps involves the stimulation of the soft tissues in the back to relax the muscles. Through this the effects of inflammation, muscle spasms, tension, aches, stiffness and pain is lessened. The type of massage therapy you will be given depends on your condition. You may be given Swedish massage which involves more friction and energy. You can also be given Myofascial Release for the relive of tension that is found in the support muscles. Other forms of massage therapy include Trigger Point and Myotherapy that involves putting pressure on certain trigger points which helps to relax the muscles and to release tension. There is also Shiatsu which was there for time immemorial and uses acupressure. The Reiki which is from Japan helps in regulating the body energy.

A back pain massage may require you to seek permission from your doctor or your physical therapist just to be sure that you have no underlying condition that can affect you. You can also ask them to refer you to a licensed massage therapist. Alternatively you can seek assistance from American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) at 888-THE AMTA for a certified massage therapist in your state. The massage therapist you get should be certified by the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA), the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCST), or the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET).